Managing DNS Records (A, CNAME, MX, TXT) Print

Prerequisites

• A registered domain name

• Access to the SmartHostee client area or DNS manager

• Correct DNS values provided by your hosting or email service provider

Common DNS Record Types

A Record

• Maps a domain or subdomain to an IPv4 address

• Commonly used to connect a domain to a web server

Example:
example.com → 192.0.2.1

CNAME Record

• Points one domain or subdomain to another domain name

• Often used for subdomains such as www

Example:
www.example.com → example.com

MX Record

• Defines which mail servers receive email for your domain

• Required for professional email hosting

Example:
example.com → mail.example.com

TXT Record

• Stores text-based information for domain verification and security

• Commonly used for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC email authentication

Example:
v=spf1 include:mailserver.com ~all

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Access DNS Management

1. Log in to your SmartHostee client area.

2. Navigate to Domains.

3. Select the domain you want to manage.

4. Click DNS Management or Manage DNS.

Step 2: Add or Edit an A Record

1. Choose Add Record.

2. Select A as the record type.

3. Enter the hostname (e.g., @ for the main domain).

4. Enter the IP address provided by your hosting provider.

5. Save the changes.

Step 3: Add or Edit a CNAME Record

1. Select CNAME as the record type.

2. Enter the subdomain (e.g., www).

3. Enter the target domain name.

4. Save the record.

Step 4: Add or Edit MX Records

1. Select MX as the record type.

2. Enter the mail server address.

3. Assign the priority value (lower number = higher priority).

4. Save the changes.

If using external email services, remove old MX records before adding new ones.

Step 5: Add or Edit TXT Records

1. Select TXT as the record type.

2. Enter the host name.

3. Paste the provided text value (e.g., SPF, DKIM, or verification code).

4. Save the record.

DNS Propagation

• Changes may take up to 24–48 hours to propagate globally

• Some updates may apply within minutes depending on TTL settings

Important Notes

• Incorrect DNS settings can cause website or email downtime

• Always copy DNS values exactly as provided

• Avoid duplicate or conflicting records

Expected Outcome

Your domain will correctly connect to websites, email services, and third-party platforms based on the configured DNS records.